Jains
paramount
tirth Shree Samet shikarji also known as Parshvanath Pahad or
Parshvanath hills is located within the district Girdih, Jharkhand near Madhuvan at a
height of 4450 feet from the sea level andis the
highest mountain south of the Himalayas.It is at
a distance of nearly 28 kilometer from the Railway Station called
Parshvanath on Delhi- Hawrah route. The journey to the Samet Shikhar
hills start from here. Besides, the Madhuvan at the foot of the hill,
there are number of beautiful temples, Dharamshalas also known as
kothies belonging to all sects of Jains.

ParasNath Hills

From Samet Shikharji or Parshvanath Pahad twenty Tirthankaras of the
present chowbeesi of twenty-four tirthnkaras and a number of Tirthankaras of
the past groups of twenty- four Tirthankaras, attained salvation on this
holy land.

Since it
is the land of penance and of nirvana of many Tirthankaras, munies and
Sadhus, every particle of this land is great holy, and adorable. A touch
of this land purifies the human birth. A pilgrimage to this sacred place
removes trouble adds to religious merits (punya) and destroys all bad
karma of the devotees.

During
January and February, the air is cool, and the atmosphere clear. The
temperature, at four AM in the morning is around 20-25 degree centigrade
with no dew. As the sun rises, Parasnath hills appears against the clear
grey sky, in the form of a beautiful broad cone, with a rugged peak, of
a deeper grey than the sky. It is a remarkably handsome mountain. The
beauty of the hill that is surrounded by the forests and natural
greenery is really very delightful and attractive beyond description.
The scene on the hill is very attractive and picturesque, delightful,
and the environment is suitable for sadhana and penance. From the hill,
the scene of the temples and buildings etc of Madhuvan look like a
divine city. Every temple and building style has a distinct and the
Architecture of its own.

On the
hill there are tunks of Tirthankars who attained the salvation from
here. The entire round about journey cover the 18 mile distance i.e. 6
miles going uphill then journey to see all tunks (Toonks) is about
6miles and then downward journey is another six miles. Normally pilgrims
start their journey in the morning about 4-5 o’clock and return before
the evening or sunset.

The Tunks
of Tirthankar are there that are worshiped by the devotees. The tunk of
Lord Tirthankar Bhagwan ChandraPrabh and Bhagwan Parshnath and JalMandir
are the distinguished one among all. Devotees feel lot of enlightened
after completing the darshan of all tunks over the hill and return to
the base at madhuvan.

At
madhuvan the following places are worth visiting :-

·
SHWETAMBAR KOTHI and TEMPLE:Just
on entering the Kothi , we find the temple of Shree Bhomiaji Maharaj,
the protector-deity of this pilgrimage. The temple is amply attractive.
Inside the Kothi itself there is the Jina temple in the form of a
cluster of eleven temples. A 90 cm. idol of Lord Shamalia Parshwanath is
installed here as the principal deity.
In dharmashala there are arrangements for devotee for boarding and
lodging etc.

·
DIGAMBAR JAIN TERAH PANTH KOTHI :In
the middle, there temple of Lord Shree Chandraprabhu. Samvasaran temple
has been on the left side of the third door of this temple.
TWENTY-FOUR 'TOONKS' - On entering here first of all we come across the
magnificent 25 feet high idol of Bahubali. Twenty-four Tirthankars have
been built here. Samvasaran temple is built in this very temple-campus.
Phone-06558-232231,232291,232292

·
KACHCHHI BHAWAN :
Fifty-two Jinalayas have been built here. This temple houses the idols
of many Jain Tirthankars. The spire of the temple is very beautiful.

·JAIN
MUSEUM : Among
the spots worth viewing in the Shikharji pilgrimage, this is the most
important. Shree Jityasha Foundation, Calcutta under the inspiration of
Ganivar Shree Mahimaprabh Sagar Ji Maharaj, has built the Museum. On the
first floor of the museum various things concerning Jainism have been
collected. Just in front of the sprawling hall the most majestic 6 feet
high idol of Lord Parshwanath in the meditation posture is auspiciously
seated. All around on the walls there is an exhibition of pictures
depicting Jain architecture. In the whole of India, this is the only
museum, which contains a collection of all the postage stamps issued on
Jainism. On the first floor itself there is a collection of ancient
art-pieces made of ivory and sandalwood. On the second floor of the
museum, 50 scenes depicting special sequence of events of Jainism have
been shown. The depictions are so lively that you will be enchanted

·.Shri
Digambar Jain Madhyalok Research Centre : This
Research Centre, which has been recently built depicts the 'Madhyalok'
or Central world as described in the Jain scriptures. The main building
houses a massive statue of Bhagwan Shri Parshwa Nath in a huge hall
suitable for prayers, congregations and large gatherings. A library is
being developed along-with research facilities for Jain scholars. The
president of the Centre is Shri Chand Mal Ji Saraogi from Kishanganj,
Bihar.

·Shri
Parshwa Kalyan Kendra : This
Centre, run by Shri Paras Jain Chikitsalaya Seva Sadan at Madhuban is
being run under the guidance of Shri Navin Muni Ji Maharaj of Swetambar
sect. It offers excellent facilities for treatment of serious diseases,
like asthma, Jaundice, Rheumatism, Leucorrhoea, Diabetes and heart
diseases, using herbal medicines, acupressure and other traditional
methods of treatment.

Uttar Pradesh
Prakash Bhawan:- Here State Tourism Development Corporation runs a hotel Paras Vihar for
the comfortable stay of the devotees and visitors. UP Prakash Bhawan-For
Advance booking contact on following numbers-KunKund Marg, Madhuban,
P.O. Shikharji, District Girdih-825329, Jharkhand

The
exclusive Teerth kshetra where all the ‘Panch Kalyanakas’ i.e. Garbha,
birth, diksa, attainment of omniscience and attainment of Moksa
of twelfth Tirthankar Lord Bhagawan Vasupujyaji took place.

The
city champapur is an ancient city and is about 200 kilometers away from
samet shikhar ji and about three kilometer away from Bhagalpur.

The city is famous for number of ancient events
known in the Jain society namely three Chaturmasa periods of Lord
Mahavir ji during diksha period and aahardan to Bhagwan Mahaveer Swami
by Sati Chandan Bala a very well known story, apart from many other
important events and stories. According to different Jain books and puranas Champapur has
the unique distinction of having " Samosaran vihar of all 24
Tirthankars", thus making the soil most sacred by the
presence of their Lordship and making the hearts of the masses most
pure by disseminating "Divya Dhwani" i.e., " Divine Voice" from time
to time.

Main
Temple: - There are two temples

The main temple of Champapur Siddha Kshetra is
quite ancient0ver 2500 years or so. The red colored Padmasana
idol of Bhagwan Vasupoojya Swami present in center of main altar is very
attractive and marvelous. The Architecture of the temple itself is of very
high standard and artistic.

Jain temple Champapuri
Bada Mandir

The surroundings of Champapur Siddha Kshetra are
quite natural, charming & very attractive. The trees and greenery are
present all around the area.

For other
information's please refer Tourist Information Centers as given at sn-1 semet sikhar ji.

Dharamshala available to accommodate 400 person
having rooms with attached bathroom-21

3-Shri
Pawapuri Tirth

Address :-ShreeDigambar
Jain Siddha Kshetra Pawapuri,

P.O. Pawapuri,
District Nalanda, Bihar. Pin-803 115

Phone:
-06112-262746 Mobile numbrs- 09931228733, and 09006561904

There are 5 Jain
temples and two Dharamshalas having provision for staying up to 2500
persons

Pawapuri,
also known as Apavapuri (Punya Bhumi), is located at 38 kilometers from Rajgir and
95 kilometers
from Patna. The Pawapuri Jain Tirth is about 200 kilometers away from
shree Samet shikhar ji. From Gaya -85km

This tirth is the place of the last monsoon
sojourns of Mahavir Swami. Lord Bhagwan Mahavir Swami attained Nirvan on
this land on the fifteenth day of the dark half of the month of Ashvin.

The
beautiful marble Jalmandir was later built in the middle of the tank.
Jal Mandir, the white marble temple in the middle of this lake, blooming
with beautiful lotus flowers affords a breathtakingly
enchanting sight.

Jal Mandir. Pawapuri.

A
large number of Jain pilgrims throng here. Samosharan, another Jain
temple, is also located here. There are five other temples in the
vicinity. The clean atmosphere of this place gives spiritual peace.

For other related information’s please refer
Tourist Information Centers as given under semet sikhar ji and also
check at references below.

Bus
Stand: -Bihar Sharief-12Km. It is 95 Km from Patna and 85 Km from Gaya.

Hospital, STD-PCO's library and college available.

4-Rajgir
(BIHAR)

Address :-Shree
Digambar Jain Siddha Kshetra Rajgir,

P.O: -Rajgir,
District Nalanda (Bihar), Pin-803 116

Phone:
-06112-255235 & mobile no-09931456176, 9835620074,9334770317

Dharamshala: -
Provision for staying 1000 persons exists

The
Rajgir is about 300kilometers away from the paramount Tirth Semet
Shikhar ji and about 97 kilometer from Patna. The distance from Gaya is
about 50 kilometers. It is just
15 kilometers from Nalanda. The place Rajgir is known for the complex of
temples and monasteries. Being located in a valley, Rajgir is a very
scenic place. The small hill grit town is covered with lush green
forest, which adds to the beauty of the place. In ancient time Rajgir
was the capital of the Magadh. In those days it was called Rajgrih. Now
a small town, Rajgir was once the capital of the kingdom of the mighty
Magadh.

Rajgriha has its own
importance from the Puranic point of view. It has been the place of
activities of Lord Mahavir and Lord Buddha. Lord Mahavir performed
Twelve 'Chaturmas' here and sprayed his spiritual ambrosia on this
district. Of the Nearly seven lakh hermits and nuns devoted to Lord
Mahavir, nearly one-fourth belonged to Rajgriha district. From this
viewpoint it can be said that Lord Mahavir had a boundless influence on
Rajgriha district.

There
are five famous hills widely known among the Jains where samosarn was
held several times. A little distance away from the Jain Dharmshala
there are Vipulgiri hills the first one. After ascending about 2
km. we come across the Vipulgiri 'Tunk'. On the hills are situated the
temples of the Janis. After worship and darshan on descending down
nearly 2kilometers from Vipulachal hill and then again ascending 2
kilometers we come to the Ratnagiri hill the second one. On this
Ratnagiri hill, there too we find Jain temples. Nearly 4 kilometers
away from the Ratnagiri hill is the third hill called Udaigiri hill.
The ascent of this hill is bit difficult. Swarnagiri is the
fourth hill here. It is also known as Shramangiri. The ascent distance
is nearly 3 kilometers. There are two caves on the southern part of this
hill. 'Jina' images have been carved on the walls in the caves.
Vaibhargiri hill is situated 2 kilometers away from here. There are
many ancient and artistic idols in it. Over all there are many temples
over these hills worth seeing and recalling the ancient time.

There is a huge temple of
Lord Buddha on the Gridhakoot hill just in front of the Ratnagiri hill.
The Vishwa Shanti Stup is located on a 400-meter high hill. The stupa is
built in marble and on the four corners of the stupa are four glimmering
statues of Buddha. To reach the top of this hill one has to come through
the “Ropeways”. This place is also called the GriddhKoot.

5-Kundalpur (Nalanda)
Bihar

Kundalpur
is located at a distance of 3 kilometers from Nalanda Rajgruhi is at a
distance of 9 kilometers and Pawapuri is at a distance of 21 kilometers
from the temple.

It
is the birthplace of Lord Mahavira. Jain Tirthankar, Lord Mahavira was
born about 2600 years ago.
The father of Mahavira was King Siddartha and his mother Trishala was
the sister of King Chetaka of Vaishali. Since the wealth of his father's
kingdom had increased during the pregnancy, the child was called
Vardhaman. He was named Mahavira because he showed great courage in a
very young age. After the death of his parents at the age of 30, he
renounced the world after fasting for two days under an Ashoka tree in
Vaishali

Mahavir
is said to have spent the first 22 years of his life at kundalpur.Bhagawan Mahavir’s three Ganadhars namely Indrabhuti,
Agnibhuti and Vayubhuti were born at this place

There is
a beautiful temple where the white marble idol of Bhagawan Mahavir is
placed. This splendid temple is very artistic, beautiful, indescribable
and spectacular.There are two
lotuses lakes-the Dirga Pushkarni and Pandava Pushkarni mark the spot.There are many Jain temples in this
village.

In
about the 5th century B.C. a monastic university was established at
Nalanda. It developed into the greatest ancient centre of learning.
Students from China and Korea, Sri Lanka and Indonesia and from all the
regions of India came to Nalanda to study.
Bhagawan Mahavir happened to meet Goshalak here.
Several visits of Bhagawan Mahavir to this place and Bhagawan Mahavir’s
preaching have made this place very important. In
various ancient lists of tirths, there is a clear mention that there
were many temples here.

Kundalpur and Nalanda are well connected by roads to other parts of the
state. Particularly from Patna the bus services are good. The Bihar
State tourism Department has its buses running from Nalanda to other
parts of the state

Nandyavrat
Mahal:(Kundalpur)-Newly
Constructed.

A new temples and
Nandyavrat Mahal was built under the Ashirwad of Aryika Gyanmati
Mata ji .